Dip tank with vapor condensing seal

ABSTRACT

A vapor condensing seal for a dip tank includes a restricted passageway through which treated fabric passes. A flat serpentine condenser coil is disposed on each of the opposed walls of the passageway. Spacing between the coils is about 1 1/4 to 3 inches.

United States Patent [191 Hunter 1 Mar. 18, 1975 [54] DIP TANK WITH VAPOR .C .QNDEN SING. SEA

[75] Inventor: Edward E. Hunter, Akron, Ohio [73] Assignee: The Goodyear. Tire & Rubber Company, Akron, Ohio 22 Filed: Apr. 25, 1974 211 Appl. N0.I 464,016

[52] U.S. C1. ..118/69,118/419 [51]' Int. Cl. B05c 3/12 [58] Field ofSearch 118/69, 419,420, 67, 118 /DIG. 19; 114 R, 114A, 114 B, 114C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 255,861 4/1882 Hopper 118/69 1,930,601 10/1933 Townsend 118/67 X 2,197,622 4/1940 Sendzimir 118/69 X 2,203,678 6/1940 Durste1er 118/419 X 2,437,528 3/1948 Hodil 118/419 X 2,547,047 4/1951 Saums et a1... 118/420 X 3,058,840 10/1962 Kerr et a1 118/69 X 3,322,558 5/1967 Turner; 1r..... 117/114 A X 3,589,330 6/1971 Alexeff 118/419 X Primary ExaminerMorris Kaplan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-F. W. Brunner; H. E. Hummer [57] ABSTRACT A vapor condensing seal for a dip tank includes a restricted passageway through which treated fabric passes. A flat serpentine condenser coil is disposed on each of the opposed walls of the passageway. Spacing between the coils is about 1% to 3 inches.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures 1 v DIP TANK wrri VAPOR CONDENSINQ SEAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention is particularly well suited for use in the treatment of tire cord fabric with a liquid coating containing a vaporizable solvent and a substance for promoting the bond between warp cords of the fabric and rubber material used in the production of tires.

A critical factor in the employment of solvent is the recovery and reuse of the recovered solvent in the process. The high cost of the solvent precludes its use, unless a very high percentage of the solvent can be regained. It is important'to reduce the flow of solvent vapor from the various chambers in which the fabric is treated, since some of the solvent is lost when it escapes into the ambient atmosphere, or an adjacent chamber where the vapor is undesirable. The invention is directed to providing a highly improved seal for eliminating or substantially reducing the passage of solvent vapor from openings through which tire cord fabric passes into and out of a chamber in which the fabric is treated.

Briefly stated, the invention is in a seal for an opening in a chamber in which vapor is present. A pair of condensers are provided in the opening for guarding the opening to prevent the escape of vapor from the chamber. The condensers are disposed in close proximity to fabric passing through the opening. Each condenser includes a passageway through which a cooling fluid is circulated to chill the condenser such that vapor, attempting to pass through the opening and contacting the condensers, is condensed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The following description of the invention will be better understood by having reference to the annexed drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a section of a dip tank employing seals made in accordance with the invention;

1 FIG. 2 is an enlarged section showing condenser,

plate coils of the seal; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a condenser plate coil used in an opening through which fabric passes into or out of the dip tank.

ENVIRONMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a treatment chamber 5, including a dip tank 6 containing a liquid coating 7 including a solvent which evaporates rapidly at high temperatures, e.g., above 50F. The solvent literally flashes off as vaporwhen heated to a temperature'of 90F. lOF. The solvent is a carrier of a substance or agent which promotes the bond between the warp cords of a tire cord fabric 8 and rubber material used in the production of tires. The fabric 8 is directed by a dip roller 9 into the liquid coating 7 and moves into and out of the chamber through entrance and exit openings 10 and 11. A scraper blade assembly 12 is provided between the exit opening 11 and dip tank 6 for removing excess liquid coating 7 from the tire cord fabric 8 shortly after it leaves the dip tank 6.

THE INVENTION The entrance and exit openings 10 and 11 each comprise a restricted, elongated throat 15 (FIG. 2). A pair of condensers l6 and 17 are mounted on opposite sides 18 and 19 of each throat 15. The condensers l6 and I7 face each other and guard each of the openings 10 and 11. The tire cord fabric 8 is guided between each pair of condensers l6 and 17 which are preferably parallel and spaced in close proximity to the moving fabric 8, this being important for condensing any solvent vapor attempting to pass through the openings 10 and 11 in the treatment chamber 5. It has been found that a minimum spacing S between closest adjacent faces 20 and 21 of the condensers 16 and 17 is about 1% inches, and preferably 1% inches, which allows about 4-inch clearance on either side of a splice made, for example, by sewing together overlapped ends of two pieces of tire cord fabric 8, which ends are each overlaid, i.e., each end is folded back on itself. Such a splice has four layers of fabric 8 which must pass between the condensers 16 and 17. The overall thickness of such a splice may be from 3/16 inch /2 inch, depending on the particular size of the warp tire cords of the fabric 8. Thus, the splice is an important factor and normally governs the minimum spacing S between the condensers 16 and 17. The maximum spacing S for obtaining efficient operation of the seal is about 3 inches and preferably 2 /2 inches.

The condensers l6 and 17, as best seen in FIG. 3, are preferably plate coils having a thickness t of about I inchand are each provided with a winding passageway 22 through which a cooling fluid, e.g. cold water, is circulated for chilling the plate coil condensers 16 and 17.

The passageways 22 are formed in a continuous, ser' pentine mound 23 which extends from a flat plate 24 of each of the plate coil condensers l6 and 17. A suitable condenser or plate coil is one manufactured by the Plate Coil Division of the Tranter Mfg. Company, and referred to in their catalogs as Plate Coil Style 60. The width W of each of the plate coil condensers l6 and 17 is naturally at least coextensive with the width of the tire cord fabric 8 being processed. A plate coil condenser having a nominal depth D of either 26 inches or 36 inches has been found suitable for adequately removing solvent vapor from the fabric 8 moving through the openings 10 and 11. The serpentine mounds 23, ex-.

tending from the plates 24, form labyrinths which, when chilled, are extremely effective in condensing solvent vapor, since they disrupt the flow patterns of solvent vapor attempting to pass through the openings 10 and 11 in the chamber 5 and force the vapor into more intimate contact with the plate coil condensers l6 and 17. Coils of piping attached to each of the opposing sides 18 and 19 of the openings 10 and 11 can also be used effectively as condensers l6 and 17. Smoothfaced condenser plates can also be used, but they are not as effective in condensing solvent vapor, as the plate coils with the embossed ridges or irregular faces formed by the serpentine mounds 23 extending from the flat plates 24. Any suitable insulation 25 is used as backing to insulate the restricted, elongated throat 15 forming each of the openings 10 and 11.

An additional chilling coil 26 (FIG. 1), upstream from the entrance opening 10 relative to fabric 8 moving into the chamber 5, may be provided when an entry compartment 27 leading to the ambient atmosphere adjoins the chamber 5. In such cases, a standard water or flap seal 28 is provided in an inlet 29 through which the fabric 8 passes as it enters the compartment 27.

Thus, there has been provided an effective seal for preventing the passage of a highly volatile solvent from a chamber in which the tire cord fabric is coated with a liquid including the solvent. The plate coils serve a twofold purpose in that they condense solvent vapor attempting to pass into and out of the chamber in which the fabric is treated. This particular seal has proven highly effective when used in conjunction with a dip tank containing a mixture of solvent and agent for impregnating and coating tire cord fabric to promote a better bond between the tire cords of the fabric and rubber material used in the production of tires.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for treating tire cord fabric, comprising in combination;

a. a chamber sealed from the ambient atmosphere, the chamber including entrance and exit openings disposed in the chamber in spaced relation, each of the openings including an elongated, restricted throat smaller than the chamber;

b. a dip tank disposed in the chamber in spaced vertical relation below the openings in the chamber, the tank containing a liquid coating comprising a mixture of an agent for promoting the bond between tire cords of the fabric and rubber material used in the production of tires, and a vaporizable solvent which is a carrier of the agent;

c. means for guiding the fabric into the liquid coating in the dip tank and through the openings in the chamber;

d. a seal for each of the openings in the chamber, the seals designed to keep vapor of the solvent from passing through the openings, each of the seals comprising:

1 a pair of condensers disposed in each of the throats adjacent opposing sides thereof, the condensers of each pair of condensers being spaced from about 1% inches to about 3 inches apart such as to be in close proximity to fabric passing therebetween, each condenser including a plate coil comprising serpentine mounds extending towards the fabric moving between the condensers, the mounds including fluid passageways through which coolant is circulated; and

2. means for circulating a cooling fluid through the fluid passageways of each of the condensers.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing between the plate coils is about l /z inches.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plates are composed of stainless steel. 

1. An apparatus for treating tire cord fabric, comprising in combination; a. a chamber sealed from the ambient atmosphere, the chamber including entrance and exit openings disposed in the chamber in spaced relation, each of the openings including an elongated, restricted throat smaller than the chamber; b. a dip tank disposed in the chamber in spaced vertical relation below the openings in the chamber, the tank containing a liquid coating comprising a mixture of an agent for promoting the bond between tire cords of the fabric and rubber material used in the production of tires, and a vaporizable solvent which is a carrier of the agent; c. means for guiding the fabric into the liquid coating in the dip tank and through the openings in the chamber; d. a seal for each of the openings in the chamber, the seals designed to keep vapor of the solvent from passing through the openings, each of the seals comprising: 1 a pair of condensers disposed in each of the throats adjacent opposing sides thereof, the condensers of each pair of condensers being spaced from about 1 1/4 inches to about 3 inches apart such as to be in close proximity to fabric passing therebetween, each condenser including a plate coil comprising serpentine mounds extending towards the fabric moving between the condensers, the mounds including fluid passageways through which coolant is circulated; and
 2. means for circulating a cooling fluid through the fluid passageways of each of the condensers.
 2. means for circulating a cooling fluid through the fluid passageways of each of the condensers.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the spacing between the plate coils is about 1 1/2 inches.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plates are composed of stainless steel. 